US3612247A - Accumulating roller conveyor system - Google Patents

Accumulating roller conveyor system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3612247A
US3612247A US846891A US3612247DA US3612247A US 3612247 A US3612247 A US 3612247A US 846891 A US846891 A US 846891A US 3612247D A US3612247D A US 3612247DA US 3612247 A US3612247 A US 3612247A
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United States
Prior art keywords
rollers
set forth
article
combination set
means comprises
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US846891A
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter B Pipp
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FKI Industries Inc
Original Assignee
American Chain and Cable Co Inc
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Publication date
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B65G47/26—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
    • B65G47/261—Accumulating articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2203/00—Indexing code relating to control or detection of the articles or the load carriers during conveying
    • B65G2203/04—Detection means
    • B65G2203/042—Sensors

Definitions

  • a common type of conveyor for moving articles is a roller conveyor wherein a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers are provided and driven so that they successively transport articles from one point to another. It has heretofore been suggested that the interruption of the drive to such rollers is desirable where articles are to be accumulated on the rollers.
  • An accumulating roller conveyor system comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending articlecarrying rollers which are yieldingly biased upwardly out of contact with continuously driven driving means.
  • the weight of the articles forces the rollers downward into driving contact with the driving means.
  • Sensing devices at longitudinally spaced points sense the interruption of movement of the articles along the rollers and cause expansible chambers to be inflated to hold the rollers out of engagement with the driving means.
  • FIG. I is a diagrammatic view of an accumulating roller conveyor system embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a system embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the system.
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective viewof another part of the system.
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the parts in a different operative position.
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal view showing a portion of the system.
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of system.
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of system.
  • FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal view of a further modified form of the system.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of one type of control system.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another type of control system.
  • the accumulating roller conveyor system made in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending article-carrying rollers each of which is biased upwardly by biasing means shown in FIG. l as springs 21 at one end thereof. In this fashion, the rollers 20 are kept out of contact with a continuously driven drivebelt 22 that is supported by idler rolls 23.
  • the weight of the articles overcomes the force of the biasing means 21 to force the rollers 20 into driving engagement with the drivebelt 22 thereby moving the articles along the conveyor.
  • Sensing means 24 are provided at longitudinally spaced points along the conveyor to sense the presence of an article interrupted in its movement on the conveyor, as for engagement by means of a stop S.
  • the rollers 20 are provided in groups along the conveyor and each group is adapted to be held upwardly, when the article is interrupted, by inflating an expansible chamber means 25 herein shown as a flexiblewalled bladder.
  • the bladder 25 is normally uninflated permitting downward movement ofthe rollers 20 into engagement with the drivebelt 22.
  • a fluidic switch 26 is actuated to direct air to the bladder 25 controlled by the sensing device 24 and thereby either hold the rollers controlled thereby out of engagement with the drivebelt or if an article is present on the rollers, force the rollers 20 upwardly out of contact with the drivebelt 22.
  • rollers 20 include a shaft 27 that projects outwardly from the ends and is retained in the open'ended slots 28 on the upper end of frame members 29 that extend longitudinally.
  • One end 30 of shaft 27 rests in the bottom of one slot 28 while the other end of shaft 27 is received in a slot 31 in one leg of a plastic retainer 32 that is generally U-shaped.
  • Retainer 32 is formed with slots 33 thereby segregating the portions of the retainer 32 into segments 35 which support the ends of the rollers.
  • a V-shaped spring member 33 made of spring material and provided with a plurality of fingers 34 in one leg is positioned beneath the retainer 32 with a finger 34 provided below each segment 35 of the retainer. In this fashion, one end of the roller 20 is biased upwardly holding the roller out of contact with the belt 22.
  • the retainer 32 and spring member 33 are supported by a two-piece bracket 36 mounted on the side of one frame member 29.
  • each member 32 and spring 33 is such that a group of rollers are supported by each retainer 32 and spring member 33.
  • a longitudinally extending bladder 25 is provided between the fingers 34 of the spring member 33 and the base thereof and includes a passage or fitment 37 that extends downwardly through an opening in the bracket 36 through which air can be supplied to the bladder or permitted to leave the bladder.
  • the idler rollers 23 are rotatably sup ported beneath drivebelt 22 in the longitudinally frame mem' bers 29.
  • the fluidic switch 26 and nozzle 24 are mounted on a transverse bracket 39 that extends between frame members 29 and is supported in the upper ends of slots 40.
  • One form of control system for the conveyor system may be of the type shown in FIG. 12.
  • the sensor or nozzle 24 projects an inverted cone jet.
  • the pressure under or inside the cone is constant.
  • some of the air which creates the side of the cone is forced down toward the large or lower endof the inverted cone through the passage to produce a signal that is amplified by an amplifier 50.
  • a combined sensor, amplifier and switch are commercially available as, for example, the pneumatic proximity sensor-amplifier sold by The General Electric Company under the designation Model PS 11 BA.
  • FIG. I3 Another type of control system is shown in FIG. I3 wherein the sensor 24' produces a vortex flow of air by directing air tangentially into a cylindrical chamber that has an open upper end. This creates a partial vacuum into the center of the chamber. An opening in the center of the chamber is connected to the vent of the gate or fluidic switch 26'. The vacuum in this line holds the flow through the gate 26' in the vent leg. If the flow from the sensor 24' is interrupted, the vacuum in the center is destroyed and the flow through the switch gate 26' reverts to its normal state and the bladder 25 inflates.
  • a combined sensor, amplifier and switch of the type shown in FIG. B3 are commercially available as, for example, is presently sold by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York.
  • each roller 20' is biased upwardly at one end by a spring 41 comprising a wire that has a central portion 42 and end portions 43 the latter of which are hooked into slots 44 in the upper ends of the frame members 29'.
  • the retainer 32 and associated structure are identical to the form shown in FIGS. 2-7, the bladder acting between bracket 36 and the segments 35 of retainer 32.
  • rollers a are supported at one end by a single spring device 45 without the provision of a retainer, the spring device having slots 46 for supporting the end of the roller.
  • a direct contact sensing device in the form of a pressure switch 47 is provided which upon physical contact with the article causes air to be directed to the bladder controlled thereby.
  • expansible chamber means operable upon application of fluid thereto to prevent the rollers from moving toward the drive means or to move the rollers upwardly out of engagement with the drive means if an article is held thereon
  • sensing means in the path of the articles for determining the presence of an article interrupted in its movement on the rollers
  • said biasing means comprises a spring engaging one end of each of said rollers.
  • biasing means comprises a yieldable plastic element urging one end of said rollers upwardly.
  • said expansible chamber means comprises an elastic-walled hollow element positioned adjacent one end of the rollers which is expandable on application of fluid thereon and is operable to engage said one end of said rollers to bias said one end upwardly upon expansion.
  • each said roller is supported for rotation and is normally in a vertically disposed position lower than said one end of each said roller.
  • sensing means comprises a member positioned in the path of said articles and adapted to engage said articles
  • sensing means comprises a member engageable by an article
  • sensing means comprises a noncontacting sensing device adapted to be actuated by an article overlying said device.
  • expansible chamber means operable upon application of fluid thereto to prevent the rollers from moving toward the drive means or to move the rollers upwardly out of engagement with the drive means if an article is held thereon
  • said expansible chamber means comprising an elasticwalled hollow element positioned adjacent one end of said group of rollers and which is expandable on application of fluid thereon and is operable to engage said one end of said group of rollers to bias said one end upwardly upon expansion,
  • biasing means comprises a spring engaging one end of each of said rollers.
  • said biasing means comprises a yieldable plastic element urging one end of said rollers upwardly.
  • each said roller is supported for rotation and is normally in a vertically disposed position lower than said one end of each said roller.
  • sensing means comprises a member positioned in the path of said articles and adapted to engage said articles
  • sensing means comprises a member engageable by an article
  • sensing means comprises a noncontacting sensing device adapted to be actuated by an article overlying said device.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rollers For Roller Conveyors For Transfer (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
US846891A 1969-08-01 1969-08-01 Accumulating roller conveyor system Expired - Lifetime US3612247A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84689169A 1969-08-01 1969-08-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3612247A true US3612247A (en) 1971-10-12

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ID=25299238

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US846891A Expired - Lifetime US3612247A (en) 1969-08-01 1969-08-01 Accumulating roller conveyor system

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3612247A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5118708B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2037473A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2056943B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1260633A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE371166B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3768630A (en) * 1971-11-16 1973-10-30 Rapistan Inc Accumulator with automatic override
US3770102A (en) * 1971-07-30 1973-11-06 Good M De Accumulator with transport override
US4042101A (en) * 1975-11-04 1977-08-16 Standard Conveyor Company Accumulating conveyor
US4088224A (en) * 1976-11-22 1978-05-09 W & H Conveyor Systems, Inc. Powered roller conveyor
US4096942A (en) * 1976-10-01 1978-06-27 Thomas Paul Shepherd Roller type of conveyor
US4199056A (en) * 1977-07-26 1980-04-22 Line Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Roller conveyor assembly
US4264004A (en) * 1978-09-20 1981-04-28 Air Logic Power Systems, Inc. Control system for accumulating conveyor
US4392568A (en) * 1978-06-22 1983-07-12 Alvey Inc. Live roller conveyor
US4609098A (en) * 1982-03-08 1986-09-02 Figgie International Inc. Zero pressure accumulating conveyor and module
US4721203A (en) * 1986-05-09 1988-01-26 Unex Conveying Systems, Inc. Powered accumulating conveyor apparatus
US4798282A (en) * 1987-11-17 1989-01-17 Hitech Robotics Ltd. Zoning conveyor
US4817784A (en) * 1982-05-27 1989-04-04 Figgie International Inc. Zero pressure accumulating conveyor control
US4919255A (en) * 1984-06-22 1990-04-24 Figgie International Inc. Zero pressure accumulating conveyor and module
US6065588A (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-05-23 Mannesmann Dematic Rapistan Corp. Contact assembly for accumulation conveyors
US6478142B2 (en) 1998-12-09 2002-11-12 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Contact assembly for accumulation conveyors
CN101475094B (zh) * 2009-01-21 2011-05-25 太原理工大学 基于多传感器技术的皮带运输机自检型托辊
CN102826359A (zh) * 2012-09-19 2012-12-19 昆山特力伯传动科技有限公司 输送带的辊筒检测装置

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS54171409U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-05-20 1979-12-04
DE4425269A1 (de) * 1994-07-16 1996-01-18 Altratec Montagesysteme Transportvorrichtung für Werkstückträger
DE29711052U1 (de) * 1997-06-26 1998-11-19 Dennerlein GmbH, 28307 Bremen Rollen-Fördervorrichtung zum Transportieren von Fördergütern entlang einer Förderstrecke

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU193995A1 (ru) * тшп ВПБ Роликовый конвейер
US3156345A (en) * 1961-06-23 1964-11-10 Rapids Standard Co Inc Motor powered accumulating conveyor
US3225893A (en) * 1962-10-15 1965-12-28 Fmc Corp Accumulating conveyor
US3425736A (en) * 1966-03-25 1969-02-04 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Pneumatic probe for handling flat objects
US3512624A (en) * 1968-07-03 1970-05-19 Sparton Corp Conveyed article positioning apparatus

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2785785A (en) * 1955-05-05 1957-03-19 Ballantine & Sons P Roller conveyor apparatus
US3420355A (en) * 1966-10-20 1969-01-07 Rapistan Inc Accumulator conveyor with pneumatic delay
GB1254103A (en) * 1968-01-08 1971-11-17 Douglas Rowson Ltd Improvements relating to conveyors

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU193995A1 (ru) * тшп ВПБ Роликовый конвейер
US3156345A (en) * 1961-06-23 1964-11-10 Rapids Standard Co Inc Motor powered accumulating conveyor
US3225893A (en) * 1962-10-15 1965-12-28 Fmc Corp Accumulating conveyor
US3425736A (en) * 1966-03-25 1969-02-04 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Pneumatic probe for handling flat objects
US3512624A (en) * 1968-07-03 1970-05-19 Sparton Corp Conveyed article positioning apparatus

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3770102A (en) * 1971-07-30 1973-11-06 Good M De Accumulator with transport override
US3768630A (en) * 1971-11-16 1973-10-30 Rapistan Inc Accumulator with automatic override
US4042101A (en) * 1975-11-04 1977-08-16 Standard Conveyor Company Accumulating conveyor
US4096942A (en) * 1976-10-01 1978-06-27 Thomas Paul Shepherd Roller type of conveyor
US4088224A (en) * 1976-11-22 1978-05-09 W & H Conveyor Systems, Inc. Powered roller conveyor
US4199056A (en) * 1977-07-26 1980-04-22 Line Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Roller conveyor assembly
US4392568A (en) * 1978-06-22 1983-07-12 Alvey Inc. Live roller conveyor
US4264004A (en) * 1978-09-20 1981-04-28 Air Logic Power Systems, Inc. Control system for accumulating conveyor
US4609098A (en) * 1982-03-08 1986-09-02 Figgie International Inc. Zero pressure accumulating conveyor and module
US4817784A (en) * 1982-05-27 1989-04-04 Figgie International Inc. Zero pressure accumulating conveyor control
US4919255A (en) * 1984-06-22 1990-04-24 Figgie International Inc. Zero pressure accumulating conveyor and module
US4721203A (en) * 1986-05-09 1988-01-26 Unex Conveying Systems, Inc. Powered accumulating conveyor apparatus
US4798282A (en) * 1987-11-17 1989-01-17 Hitech Robotics Ltd. Zoning conveyor
US6065588A (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-05-23 Mannesmann Dematic Rapistan Corp. Contact assembly for accumulation conveyors
US6478142B2 (en) 1998-12-09 2002-11-12 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Contact assembly for accumulation conveyors
CN101475094B (zh) * 2009-01-21 2011-05-25 太原理工大学 基于多传感器技术的皮带运输机自检型托辊
CN102826359A (zh) * 2012-09-19 2012-12-19 昆山特力伯传动科技有限公司 输送带的辊筒检测装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2056943A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-05-07
SE371166B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-11
JPS5118708B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-06-11
FR2056943B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-03-14
DE2037473A1 (de) 1971-02-18
GB1260633A (en) 1972-01-19

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